Let's Talk about Allergic Rhinitis

I started having symptoms of recurrent irritation of my throat, mild cough, cold, sometimes malaise and tired eyes when i was in college. I have always wondered what was wrong with me. I was thinking I might be having bronchitis (though I didn’t smoke then… until now) or worse, Pulmonary Tubercolosis. My closest friends worked in a government hospital in our city so I had access to any medical and laboratory work-up for free. I had few x-rays, sputum analysis and medical check up’s but all revealed to be negative.

Symptoms got worse when I had my clinical internship in Manila as a graduating Physical Therapy student. After each day I would feel sick although temperature seemed normal. I thought the toxic work of clinical internship was causing my fatigue. Little did i know that the smug in the city was also a significant factor.

It took more years of (mild) suffering until I was told that I have allergic rhinitis. I am allergic to almost any irritants – fume (from air freshener), cigarette smoke, automobile smoke, dust, powder, season changes, pollen, Name it.

So what exactly is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis, often called allergies or hay fever, occurs when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breathe-you are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles in your body, causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. The particles are called allergens, which simply means they can cause an allergic reaction.

People with allergies usually have symptoms for many years. You may have symptoms often during the year, or just at certain times. You also may get other problems such as sinusitis and ear infections as a result of your allergies.

Over time, allergens may begin to affect you less, and your symptoms may not be as severe as they had been. But not in my case.

What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?
In most cases, when you have allergic rhinitis:

• You sneeze again and again, especially after you wake up in the morning. Irritants inhaled can also cause sneezing.

• You have a runny nose and postnasal drip. The drainage from a runny nose caused by allergies is usually clear and thin. But it may become thicker and cloudy or yellowish if you get a nasal or sinus infection.

• Your eyes are watery and itchy.

• Your ears, nose, and throat are itchy.

• Allergic reaction can also result to dark circle around the eyes, especially the lower part.

Which allergens commonly cause allergic rhinitis?
You probably know that pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds cause allergic rhinitis. Many people have allergies to dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, and mold as well. Things in the workplace, such as cereal grain, wood dust, chemicals, or lab animals, can also cause allergic rhinitis. Extremes in temperature or season changes can also trigger allergic rhinitis.

If you are allergic to pollens, you may have symptoms only at certain times of the year. If you are allergic to dust mites and indoor allergens, you may have symptoms all the time.

Treatment
There is no cure for allergic rhinitis. One of the best things you can do is to avoid the things that cause your allergies. You may need to clean your house often to get rid of dust, animal dander, or molds. Or you may need to stay indoors when pollen counts are high.

Unless you have another health problem, such as asthma, you may take over-the-counter medicines to treat your symptoms at home. If you do have another problem, talk to your doctor first. Others who also should talk to their doctor before starting self-treatment include older adults, children, and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

If your allergies bother you a lot and you cannot avoid the things you are allergic to, you and your doctor can decide if you should get allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help control your symptoms. For allergy shots to work, you need to know what you are allergic to.

Finding the treatment that works best for you may take a little time.

Anti allergy medication and decongestant (if I also have runny nose) usually work for me. Norepinephrine (Claritine or similar drug) works best for me and it doesn’t cause drowsiness. Most cough medication have anti-allergy components. However, most f these medications can cause drowsiness which can interfere to daily activities and work.

Medical consult is always the first step to getting the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSvorXVuCcc